hi everyone:
i loved the cello and i always wanted to learn it at school.
Unfortunately it is so huge and my home is far away from school,
so i learnt the viola instead...
but i hope in the future, i can have a chance to learn the cello,
by the way,is cell hard to play??

You have either got it, or you haven't. People can spend years trying to make it sound nice. Other people take to it like ducks take to water. You just have to give it a try, and see whether it's for you.

I am a pianist who has been learning the cello for 5 months (as a very late starter!) and I am making progress and enjoying it. It is certainly a challenge - fingers have to be in exactly the right position to get the correct note pitch, while aiming for a good tone and trying to keep the right hand in the correct position on the bow (haven't solved that one yet - my fingers keep falling off!). All this to think of while sitting properly, trying not to drop the left arm, keeping time (I find this more difficult on the cello because of allowing for different lengths of bow stroke) and reading the music. Still, you'll know about these aspects of learning from playing the viola, so you should have a head start there. The strings are harder to press down than viola strings.

If you have not played an instrument that uses bass clef (apart from piano) you might find that it takes getting used to (tenor clef too when you get a lot more advanced). I play bass recorder, so haven't had a problem with that, but I remember what it was like when I first played the bass recorder - you would think that knowing it for piano would mean you would be able to play it straight away, but it doesn't seem to work like that.

Make sure you get a really good specialist cello teacher if you do decide to learn - the early stages are very important as it is when your habits are set. Mine is really brilliant. She is a performer as well as a teacher, and very thorough.

I'm playing two of my easy beginner pieces at the Adult Learners Concert next Saturday (see Adult Learner thread), so wish me luck as I'll be quite nervous on the day - as we all shall be!

Good luck with your cello playing future.

I played the violin and viola, so i don't think it'll be a problem at getting the correct pitch...i use too spend a lone time to get the pitch on my second instrument-violin because i learned the piano as my first instrument.

I reckon the cello seems more easier a bit than the violin or viola. The instruments rests more on the floor (using the spike) and just leaning at your body rather than at your chin so you'll be much more free in changing positions. But people are crazy for the cello's beautiful tone. I think you need years of training to get there. If you saw a video recording of an artist when he was still a child, you'll notice his cello sound isn't as good as when he is an adult.

But i think i'll be too small to play on a Cello...

There are plenty of small cellists around. The principal cellist in my local amateur orchestra plays a 7/8 size cello. You can go and choose the size of cello that you want to play - my brother started on an 1/8 size and progressed through 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 size cellos and is now on a full size.

QUOTE (cheeble @ Feb 23 2005, 08:57 AM)

The principal cellist in my local amateur orchestra plays a 7/8 size cello.

Is this common? Are professional musicians allowed to play on a 7/8? How big is your friend? I just wonder because it's possible my daughter will be considering these questions in a number of years time.

QUOTE (zoda @ Feb 24 2005, 12:21 AM)

QUOTE (cheeble @ Feb 23 2005, 08:57 AM) The principal cellist in my local amateur orchestra plays a 7/8 size cello. Is this common? Are professional musicians allowed to play on a 7/8? How big is your friend? I just wonder because it's possible my daughter will be considering these questions in a number of years time.

My cello teacher says that his former teacher still uses a 3/4 cello with a really long spike until now. Since my teacher is really big then I guess that his teacher isn't too small either!

QUOTE (zoda @ Feb 23 2005, 05:21 PM)

QUOTE (cheeble @ Feb 23 2005, 08:57 AM) The principal cellist in my local amateur orchestra plays a 7/8 size cello. Is this common? Are professional musicians allowed to play on a 7/8?

allowed? I would guess that if a cellist is good enough to be a professional, and has a cello that suits their size and playing, then that's the cello they are going to use. I would imagine that a larger cello would have a bigger voice, and obviously there is the consideration of matching sizes in orchestral sections, but I don't think the difference between a 7/8 and a full size would be that enormous. I can't imagine that one has to play a certain size in order to be a pro!

If you still think you're small, then play a smaller cello, like cheeble said. A 1/4 cello is just a little bit bigger than a violin, isn't it?

how big is a 1/8 size cello??
wouldn't it be smaller than a violin??

My daughter was about 5 when she started on a 1/8 cello, which she is still using. The soundbox length is 20" (compared to 14" for a full size violin). It is also very noticeably deeper than a violin. This means that there is plenty of room for the notes to bounce about and resonate - it takes 14 seconds for a plucked open D or A to disappear totally (although the C has totally disappeared after 4 seconds.) I think a small sized cello is quite pleasant sounding compared, for instance to a small sized violin.

I can't resist it ...

this is a 1/8 size cello.

cant you get 1/10th size cellos too?

As an aside I play a full size cello but i have a 7/8th size violin. There is very little difference between a 7/8th size in a violin and the full size its just allows people with slightly smaller hands to get the 4th finger in tune.
Its strange it must be to do with the position of the hand cuz i manage fine on a full size cello but im able to move my hand more freely i think...

pinkoi
x

QUOTE (elidatrading @ Mar 2 2005, 03:07 PM)

I can't resist it ... this is a 1/8 size cello.

Liz I've only just ebayed your viola and you're starting to make me feel guilty already!

mind you - restring it as a viola, hang on to it till next Halloween, and you could make a few bob playing the Bartok viola concerto round the luxury pads of Huddersfield (you'll need a joke spike that looks like it goes through your neck though - and of course a face mask ).